Lincoln – Twenty-three Nebraska residents from 16 cities and towns will take wing July 22 in the 2009 edition of the Nebraska ESGR Bosslift.

The Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, headquartered in Lincoln, will host the group on a flight aboard a Nebraska Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker to March Air Reserve Base, California.

The Nebraska ESGR Bosslift participants will spend Wednesday and Thursday touring military reserve component facilities and learning about the vital role Guard and Reserve soldiers play in defense of America.

The Bosslift leaves the Air National Guard Base in Lincoln at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 and returns at 1 p.m. Friday, July 24. In between, the whirlwind itinerary includes some eight stops on Wednesday’s tour and at least nine more Thursday.

The travelers will enjoy fine dining and socializing while on the ground. In the air, if events go as planned, each will get to lie next to the boom operator in the aft section of the KC-135 and watch a refueling operation between two planes flying only yards apart.

The Bosslift will be accompanied by Major General (retired) Walter Zink, chairman select of the Nebraska ESGR Committee, and Brigadier General Roma Amundson, the first female general officer in the history of the Nebraska Army National Guard and its assistant adjutant general.

Others hosting the Bosslift guests are Mark Voichoski, ESGR ombudsman director, plus ESGR committee members Phil Dittbrenner, Les Larsen, Don Mehring and Bill Smets.

Joining Gen. Amundson from the military department will be Brigadier General Jon Fago, Army National Guard chief of staff, and MSG Alex Salmon. Attending from the ESGR’s staff in Lincoln will be John Bryan and Peggy Brown.

ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve personnel. Please contact Executive Director William Nelson at 402-309-7105 or email william.nelson1@us.army.mil for more information on ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities.
 

**Participants are: Pat Anderson (Gering), Jeff Eisenmenger (Norfolk),  Robert Evnen (Lincoln), Dan Fogland (Grand Island), Tim Fralin (Beatrice), Chuck Haase (Grand Island), Mike Higgins (Lincoln), Lori Keller (York), Darrell Lewis (Scottsbluff), John McGhehey (Alliance), Mike Olson (Grand Island), Tammy Pearson (Nebraska City), Brad Philson (Lincoln), Lynn Sievers (Wayne), Sharyn Skiles (McCook), Jeffrey Steffan (Norfolk), Mike Stuhr (Omaha), Jim Trumbull (Scottsbluff), Kevin Wilkinson (Alliance), John Williams (Omaha), Vaughn Wright (Beatrice), Steve Wilson (Hooper), Greg Vlasnik (Crete).